660 Senator
Bob Brown: To ask the Minister representing the Special Minister
of State—

(1) Has
the department or any agency for which you are responsible: (a) had
discussions or negotiations with Solaris Paper Pty Ltd regarding the
procurement of Solaris Paper toilet paper within the past 12 months;
and/or (b) entered into any contracts with Solaris Paper Pty Ltd for
the procurement of Solaris Paper toilet paper within the past 12 months;
if so, can details be provided for each contract detailing: (i) what
was the length of the contact, (ii) what was the value of the contract,
(iii) whether it was the department or an agency (please state which
agency) that entered into the contract, and (iv) whether the contract
satisfies the Government’s procurement policy.

(2) Has
the department or any agency for which you are responsible procured
paper or tissue products directly or indirectly from Asia Pulp &
Paper (APP) or its affiliates.

(3) Would the purchasing of products
from APP and its Australian affiliate Solaris Paper Pty Ltd constitute
a breach of the requirement under section 44 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 that the Federal
Government be ‘effective and ethical’ in the use of its resources.

662 Senator
Abetz: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Human
Services—Does the department recognise employees with awards for years
of service; if so: (a) what lengths of service are recognised; (b) what
type of awards are given to employees who reach each various milestones;
(c) what categories of employees, if any, do not receive such awards;
and (d) what is: (i) the cost to the department of this program, and
(ii) the unit cost of individual awards.

663 Senator
Abetz: To ask the Minister for Broadband, Communications and
the Digital Economy—Has the department contracted ASG Group to provide
project management services; if so: (a) can a complete description of
the project and ASG’s role be provided; (b) what was the rationale
for using direct procurement in this instance; and (c) what is the value
of: (i) ASG’s contract, and (ii) the entire project.

664 Senator
Abetz: To ask the Minister for Broadband, Communications and
the Digital Economy—Did the department buy an office suite for the
National Broadband Network (NBN) or an ‘NBN Office Suite’ in 2008
from Design Craft Furniture; if so: (a) what pieces were bought; (b) who
were they for; (c) who selected the suite; (d) is the suite still in use
and where; (d) what was the total cost of the suite; and (e) what did
this office suite have to do with the NBN.

665 Senator
Abetz: To ask the Minister for Broadband, Communications and
the Digital Economy—

(1) Has
the Government decided to conduct a National Broadband Network advertising
campaign; if so: what is: (a) the rationale; (b) the budget; and (c) the
length of the campaign.

(2) Have
any companies and/or agencies been engaged in connection with this campaign;
if so: (a) which companies and/or agencies; (b) what is their role; (c) by
which procurement method were they chosen; and (d) how much will they
be paid.

667 Senator
Abetz: To ask the Minister representing the Treasurer—Has the
Australian Taxation Office purchased goods from Hoders Pty Ltd for rewards
and awards; if so: (a) what: (i) products, and (ii) quantities, have been
purchased; and (b) what was: (i) the purpose, and (ii) the cost, of these
purchases.

668 Senator
Abetz: To ask the Minister representing the Attorney-General—Has
the department undertaken any building works at its offices on National
Circuit, Canberra, in the past year; if so: can a detailed list be provided
of these works, together with their individual cost.